Making the right choices in life

The way people mourned and worshiped Princess Diana, as if she was immortal, not only fascinated the scientists but also astonished me. It has opened my eyes to the strength and power of the media in penetrating people's minds.

People became so emotional and obsessed by this fictional character shaped by the media that they refused to see the facts and refused to listen to even the slightest criticism of their heroine.

Those who tried to lead them back to reality were considered traitors. It took courage for someone to swim against the tide and disagree with public opinion at the time.

This phenomenon can obviously be seen among readers of The Jakarta Post too. When somebody wrote an article about the other side of Diana's life or wrote a letter expressing his or her personal view -- which unfortunately was against the current public sentiment -- he or she was then promptly attacked by angry fans of Diana who would rather believe in their fantasy than hear the facts. They wanted everyone in the world to sing the same hymn.

I feel sorry for Mr. Natarajan whose letters were published on Sept. 5 and Sept. 7. He was attacked and accused of discrediting the princess.

Did not Natarajan have the right to express his opinion, which differed from others? I would say that his opinion made sense. He only tried to unveil the truth.

The monarchy is a heritage of history. It reflects antiquity and its traditions are age-old. Like an old building of great architectural and historical value, the monarchy does not serve a modern function but it is worth preserving somehow.

Diana, a lovely young woman with little education, managed to have her dreams come true and became a princess out of a fairy tale. Unfortunately, she was not prepared for the real role of a princess, as expected by the monarchy, other than to bear children who could be heir to the throne.

She came from a broken home, suffered from bulimia and attempted suicide. Her unstable emotional state and mixed-up personality made it all the more difficult for her to cope with royal life and duties.

I wonder why Diana was willing to marry a royal family member but reluctant to adapt to the lifestyle and responsibilities.

Her case is different from the monarchy of Japan. Princess Masako, who married Prince Naruhito, used to be a very independent young woman. She was an intelligent Harvard graduate with a promising career.

However, she married the prince and embarked on a monarchal life, accepting all the consequences of her decision. That reflected her mature attitude. She knew what she was doing and made a choice.

She seems to have been prepared to compromise -- carrying out her duties and obligations sometimes at the expense of her own rights and freedom. Princess Masako has been able to build a bridge between herself and her circumstances.

A person has to follow the rules of the game. If not, either the game would be in jeopardy or the person would end up frustrated. The monarchy needs to undergo some changes to adapt to the modern era though not too dramatic.

JENNY LAURITZ KHOENG

Jakarta